Category: tales from the road

Race: Rock ‘N Soul Quarter Marathon

Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Date: June 23, 2012

Time: 54:52

Apparently, last year, the Rock ‘N Sole Half Marathon didn’t work out so well.  There were multiple hospitalizations, intense heat, and problems all around.  But for this year’s race, they hired a new race director, changed the start time, had more volunteers, much more water, and added two races – a Quarter Marathon and a 5K race.

I could have run the half marathon, but being as I just ran one at the beginning of the month, when I was eying the Rock ‘N Sole race, I figured it was probably better to stick with the quarter marathon (that’s 6.55 miles).  Besides, quarter marathons are rather rare, are a good distance, and it would fit right into my training for my next half marathon in September.

With no hesitation, I signed up.  And this meant taking Friday, June 22, off from work and driving all the way from my home in Southern Indiana to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  My roommate and I decided to work it like it was one of your gym mornings, get up early, grab some breakfast at home, pack some snacks for the road, finish packing, and hit the road by 6:30 a.m. at the very latest.  We hit the road at 6 a.m.

The drive up was long, but we put on the iPod and made it work.  Somewhere in Chicago we dove into our GoPicnic boxes for lunch.  And around 12:30 p.m., we were checking into our hotel in Milwaukee.  Happiness.  Soon after dropping off our luggage, we were hitting the road to downtown because I needed to hit up packet pick-up at the expo, which was happening at the Italian Community Center.

That expo was small as well, but larger than the one for Minneapolis.  I walked straight back to the packet pick-up desk and got my bag that contained some goodies, race information, my bib, timing chip, and my shirt.  The race excitement was definitely building now.  It was feeling real.  While walking around the expo, I was gifted with free socks being handed out by the main sponsor, BMO Harris Bank.  Sweet.  I eyed a few items at the expo, but as usual…lots of window shopping, no actual shopping.  With all that done, and the expo fully explored, my roommate and I headed out to do some exploring and shopping in Milwaukee.

A few stores, some frozen custard, and a stop back at the hotel later, we were dressed in jeans and out of our travel-in-the-car clothes and heading out for dinner.  Cathy found this great restaurant called Transfer Pizzeria & Café.  And what made it so great, aside from the ambiance and amazing staff?  Gluten-free bruschetta, gluten-free pizza, and a gluten-free brownie for dessert.  Perfect ending to the night before the race.  Carbs, dessert, and good times.  It was back to the hotel afterwards to settle in for the night because the morning was going to be another early one.

It was 4 a.m. when my alarm on my iPhone began to go off.  I got out of bed, grabbed my race clothes, and headed into the bathroom to change.  Cathy turned on the Weather so we could see what we would be dealing with while I ate a serving of gluten-free cereal and she had a breakfast bar.  We finished up, glad that it was in the low sixties currently and no rain was moving through, got our stuff, and headed downtown to the start of the race.

We arrived early so we could park in one of the free lots.  We did get a spot in one with no problem.  It wasn’t the one we were aiming for, but, hey…it was a spot.  We grabbed the race bag and she got my sign and off we went.  We could see the finish line from where we parked so now we had to make the walk to where the race was starting.  It was a bit of a haul, but it wasn’t too bad.  There were only a few runners currently mingling and standing around.  Most people out there were volunteers.  And as we neared the start line, which was in front of the Milwaukee Museum of Art on the lakefront, the sun began to come up and we had the most spectacular sunrise over the lake.  It was fantastic.

So, we settled in on a bench and about an hour before the race, we had the rest of our breakfast.  A granola bar for her and a banana with peanut butter for me.  This gave my body time to digest.  This was the same thing I ate before the Mini Marathon in Indianapolis…so I knew it would work out.  Then, just as suddenly as the sun came up…it disappeared.  And this thick wave of fog began to roll in off the lake.  It was a blanket.  No joke.  The sun was completely gone and it was getting difficult to see too far in front of you.

It was kind of great though.  I’ve run in heat, sun, snow, rain, cold, lightning…never fog.  First time for everything.  As 20 minutes to race time approached, the fog was even heavier.  There were much more people around now and we all began our tradition of stretching and warming up.  Everywhere you looked, runners were preparing for whichever race they were running.

The Half and Quarter Marathons were starting together at 7:00 a.m.  The 5K would start at 7:20 a.m.  So, around 6:45, the announcer began to tell runners to get into their corrals because the race would start promptly at 7:00.  I gave Cathy a hug, and she wished me luck, and off I went to Corral G…my short-term home at the start of the race.  At first, runners were scarce in the corrals.  No, the fog wasn’t hiding them, they were just still making their way here.  But soon we were lined up, listening to the National Anthem, and being told that at the top of the Daniel Hoan Bridge was our first water stop, but due to the fog…we couldn’t see it.  So, we were to listen for instructions on where to be so we didn’t run into volunteers, tables or whatever.  Yay, fog!

And then…the countdown began and we were off.  Well, it took about 2 minutes to get from Corral G to the start line.  Not too bad considering.  And then, I hit start on my Garmin as I crossed the start line…and away I went with the group.

It was rather quick getting to the bridge, which was to offer spectacular views of the Milwaukee skyline, Lake Michigan, and the Summerfest grounds.  But…we saw fog.  Ah well.  And, holding true…running up exit ramps…sucks.  They are a lot steeper than they look, trust me.  And about halfway up, my iPod shut off.  So, I had to mess with that and get it working, which meant I wasn’t really running my best.  But I got it sorted and back on track, and picked it up a little.

They were right…you couldn’t see the water station as you crested the top.  But they had volunteers funneling runners through so that we all got in and out safely.  Once we got past there, it was a breeze.  Mile 1 was already behind me and I was making the push for Mile 2.  The fog was beginning to become less dense, and the sun was making a play at coming back out.  Mile 2 arrived just before we headed down the ramp to run a stretch of road.  Mile 3 was at the top of the other exit ramp as we began to make our way back across the Daniel Hoan Bridge.  There still wasn’t any visibility of the downtown, the lake, or the Summerfest grounds, but running in the fog was an adventure.  However, with the sun breaking through, the heat of the day was starting to get felt.

Somewhere between Mile 3 and Mile 4, a man running in the half marathon stumbled and fell.  I mean, took a hard crash down on the bridge.  Runners stopped to help him up and make sure he was okay (I love the people in my sport!), and he shook it off and started back at a slower pace.  He looked okay and seemed fine after that fall.  That…is only a good thing.

Mile 4 kicked by us and soon we were heading off the bridge and into the downtown Milwaukee area.  I felt great.  This race felt great.  I was keeping a good pace because I wasn’t completely exhausted yet.  I was heading into Mile 5, feeling better than I did the previous 5 mile race the weekend before.  It was awesome and I was having a great time.

Mile 5 marked the split.  Quarter Marathon runners kept to the right to turn and head into the final 1.5 miles of the race to the finish line.  Half Marathon runners continued on for 8.2 more miles.  I made the split and was now running in downtown.  We were guided through this beautiful area between the lake.  With the sun out, it was a fantastic view.  And I was loving it.  Better yet, my legs were feeling strong and I was feeling better than I had on a longer race run in a long time.  Mile 6 was here and I was moving really good.  I knew I had just over a half mile to go.  Normally I ride this out until I can see the finish line…but like I said…I was feeling good.  Taking a risk, I picked up the pace.

The finish area was not in sight yet, but I could hear the announcer.  So, I knew I was getting close.  I came around a corner, and was heading down the street…then the course took another turn.  There it was…the finish line.  So…I decided to just put my all into the finish.  Finish strong.  That’s what I had every intention of doing.  I pushed hard, I found the strength, and I tore it up to the finish line.  I even remembered to stop my Garmin.

I saw Cathy up in the stands on the side of the course where all the 5K runners were coming in.  She was screaming and waving her sign.  I gave a fist pump of victory, not even looking at my time.  It just felt good.  The race felt good.  I knew I had run it well.  I made my way through runner’s services, receiving my finisher’s medal, water, some snacks, and getting my Finisher photo taken against the banner.  Then it was into the Summerfest grounds to find Cathy.

It only took a moment to spot her, waving my sign at me from a shady spot.  I hurried over there and finally checked my watch.  If the official results were close to what my Garmin said…then I really tore this race up.  That being said, I headed over to the results tent and got handed my ticket.

Official results of the Rock ‘N Sole Quarter Marathon are that I finished in 54:52. I was 171/1917 finishers overall. That…my friends…is AWESOME! I was 59/1309 women to cross the finish. And I was 12/228 people in my division.  You know what the most amazing part is?  That I beat out my last Quarter Marathon time by almost a full 10 minutes.  I was shocked.  Stunned.  And I have to admit, the time and effort I’ve been putting into my training for these races is really starting to pay off.  I can see the difference in my running.  I have never felt that amazing at that point of a race.  And when I look at my split times for each mile…for the first time ever…I ran a negative split, doing the second half of my race faster than the first half.  In fact, my last two miles were my fastest, which averaged out to a pace of 7.4.  Holy crap!

To say I am proud is an understatement.  I am amazed.  I am elated.  And I’m still in awe.  What a great race.  I had a good time and I really found my stride.  I learned to push myself beyond what I figured was what I could handle and discovered there is a lot more left in me than I thought.  I finished strong, had a good race, and hope to come back for it again.

Race: Activate America 5-Mile Run/2-Mile Walk

Place: Frankfort, Kentucky

Date: June 16, 2012

Time: 40:15

Ah…the Activate America 5 Miler.  I remember this race so well from the year prior to this one.  As I mentioned in my previous blog, it was the scene of my stress fracture and runner’s knee injuries that put me out of running not just in June, but also July and much of August too.  It took many doctor and hospital and specialist visits to get me back on my feet in time for two 5Ks and a half marathon in Chicago on September 11, 2011.

So, needless to say…I was more than a little nervous about this race.  I told myself I wasn’t going to dwell on it.  I wasn’t even going to think about it when I was out there running.  I was simply going to run the course and be zen.

And…I set a goal that I only shared with my roomie.  It remained unspoken until now.  Last year, I finished the Activate America 5-Mile Run in 45:07.  That’s pretty damn speedy, you know?  So, I wasn’t sure how I would fair this year.  But my goal was to come in at 42 minutes.  That, I figured, seemed like a good goal to have.  Shave three minutes off.  Golden.

Being that this race was in Frankfort, Kentucky, it meant another early morning to rise, prepare, get something in my stomach, hydrate, and get in the car to head to Frankfort.  It’s not as much of a drive as say…Indianapolis…but it still requires a bit of a haul from where I live.  So…my roommate and I piled our stuff into the car and away we went.  The drive was easy and we reached Frankfort an hour before race time.  Perfect.  I pulled out my thinkThin bar from my race bag and ate it as we walked toward the State Capitol, where the race started and where packet pick-up was being held on the steps.

The place was already buzzing.  I went and got my packet, which included a nice tech shirt.  And, since I ran all three races in the Frankfort Trifecta, I was given a horseshoe as well.  It’s Kentucky, folks.

I got pinned up and began to stretch out, taking in the view from the steps of the State Capitol.  I looked around to see if I recognized anyone.  And I let my nerves play out by constantly milling about and finding new ways to stretch out my legs.  Before long, people were lining up in front of the start line.

It was a humid morning.  Already 72 degrees at the start of the race.  I was in a bra top and some shorts.  I didn’t want to get too hot so I went with minimal clothing for this one.  I’m very glad I did.  We lined up by pace.  I was somewhere near the front of the pack, but there wasn’t much space between pace groups.  I turned on my watch to find its satellites, which it did, relatively quickly, and was futzing with my iPod when I hear the start gun go off.  No warning.  We were off.

I got my music going.  I started my watch as I crossed the start line…and I was on the road to rematch with the Activate America 5 Mile Run.

I was so absorbed in the run that I actually was surprised when I rounded a corner and there was the marker for the first mile.  One down.  Four to go.  We were running through downtown Frankfort at this point…a route I know rather well as most races down there follow it.  This was the easy part.  Minor hills, save for the one when you double back and head back toward the Capitol before branching off and taking the long road down to the turn-around point before coming back to the finish (which was also the start).  Did you get all that?

*cough*

Anyway, back to the race.  As we’re running through downtown and heading toward the street that takes us up the hill and toward the Capitol (also Mile 2), I discovered the first problem.  We were running into the walkers.  They were walking one way…we were running the other.  And we were having a difficult time traversing each other.  A walker wouldn’t want to give way to the runner.  And the runner is on a mission to win, or beat a personal time, or to reach a goal.  So that crossing there wasn’t awesome at all.  But…we managed.  Somehow.

Mile 2 was right as we reached the road that we now got to run down for over a mile and a half before turning around and coming back.  This road is pretty empty.  Not much there.  You head under an parking deck and it’s just road out ahead of you, a few scattered buildings, some businesses, and a dog that chased a couple runners.  Thankfully not me.  It was a big dog and I’m terrified of big dogs.  But the runners just ahead of me got it chasing, barking, and nipping at their heels.  YIKES!  The dog broke off and ran towards me, past me, and that was the last I saw of it.  By now, Mile 3 had passed and I knew the turnaround was coming up.  I was doing good.  Making good time.  Keeping my pace pretty well, despite some inclines and the like.  It was hard…especially in that heat.  But I was doing better than I anticipated.

Just as Mile 4 was coming up, there was one of the two water stations (the other one was before Mile 2).  I grabbed a water bottle, took a few refreshing sips as I ran, then decided there was a better use for that water.  And over my head it went.  The cold water felt awesome.  Last mile.  And a lady who ran by me and a couple runners even encouraged us, “Come on runners!  Last mile!”  And she was off.  I never have that sort of energy at the end of a race.  I admire people who do.  That’s the next thing I need to work on once I get used to hill repeats.

The last mile was sheer willpower.  I knew when I saw that parking deck that I was getting closer.  And when I rounded a corner, I could see the hill (YES!  YOU FINISH ON A HILL!) that led up to the finish line.  I poured on my speed last year, despite injury, to finish strong.  I did it again here.

I could see Cathy at the finish, waving my sign and cheering me on.  I ran fast…then a little bit faster.  My legs were straining but I was going.  And after I crossed, I stopped my Garmin.  I didn’t even glance at it.  I moved out of the way and attempted to catch my breath.  Cathy found me, told me to go get some water and we moved out of the finish line area.  Before turning to head to where the water was, I took a look at my Garmin.  It said 40:15.  If that was right, I shaved 5 minutes off my previous year’s finish time.  I even beat the goal I set for myself.  I wasn’t just happy.  I was surprised, elated, and thirsty!  Oh…and this year…no injuries.  Even better.

I went and got some water then we climbed the stairs of the Capitol to take a seat.  They were going to hand out awards and we usually stay for that.  The announcer eventually said that results were being posted, so I got up to see if I was listed somewhere.  Sure enough…I was.  In fact, I came in 2nd in my age division.  WOOHOO!  Granted, the person who won my age division ran the race a full 7 minutes faster than me, so…I have room for improvement.

The official results of the Activate America 5 Mile Run/2 Mile Walk are that I finished in 40:15.  I was 63/265 finishers overall and was 2/22 people in my division.  These results were completely unexpected…but I am very proud of them.

What’s more is the results for the entire Frankfort Trifecta were tallied and posted.  And I came in 5th for the Overall Women’s Open Division (ages 18-39).  I was beat out for 4th place…by 2 seconds.  TWO SECONDS!  Ah well.  I’ll take 5th place.  That’s pretty awesome considering I’ve only been running for about a year and a half now.

This was a great race series and I am definitely going to run it again.  Each race gives just enough of a challenge to keep it interesting.  And…I love running in Frankfort.

And…for those of you keeping track…yes…soon after the awards were handed out, a storm rolled in and pelted Frankfort, Kentucky.  So the streak remains.  If I run in Frankfort…it rains.

Thank you, Frankfort, Kentucky, for your Frankfort Trifecta Run/Walk Series.  I enjoyed being a part of all three races this year.  Maybe I can win back those two seconds next year.

Race: Minneapolis Half Marathon

Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: June 3, 2012

Time: 1:58:28

Oh yes…you read that right. My first ever sub-2 hour half marathon. It was my goal to do that once this year in the four half marathon’s I am signed up to run in (with a possible 5th one in the works). And then I go and do it on my second one for the year. This has been a fantastic running season. And I couldn’t be more proud of this finish.

If something was going to go wrong leading into this race…it was bound to happen. I’m not being dramatic. Bear with me.

On Monday, after I went for a run, my roommate and I went into work (yes…on Memorial Day when everyone else had the day off) and put in six long, hard hours to get into a good spot as we were only working a half day on Thursday before taking off to Minnesota. For lunch, we got Chick-Fil-A. Don’t get on my case yet. As a vegetarian, I got a large fruit cup and a medium order of waffle fries. I’ve done that before, and been fine. But something (we’re guessing some accidental gluten contamination in what is usually gluten-free fries) made me feel under the weather for five days…including travel days. I worked through it and no one was the wiser, but I felt awful. And now…Chick-Fil-A makes me more than a little nervous when it comes to eating on the go. Ugh. Gluten intolerance sucks.

Add on top of that the flight delays from hell. We got to the airport in Louisville in good time, thanks to my co-worker and teammate, Kayla, who was kind enough to take us there. After breezing through security and getting to our gate…our flight is delayed? Why? Because we are flying through O’Hare in Chicago…and all flights were grounded due to very bad weather. AH!

Then, the second leg of our flights from Chicago to Minneapolis gets cancelled!! Good thing my roommate checked our flight status while we were waiting and went to get it sorted if possible. Yep. Flight was cancelled and we were now given two of the remaining three seats on the flight out of O’Hare to Minneapolis…at 8:15 p.m. Better than nothing. I text my Aunt Jan to let her know of our change in arrival time. And the long wait begins. Then, we board and fly to Chicago. Upon arrival we now have a five hour layover. So we walk around the terminals for a bit. Then get some dinner (I grabbed a salad and a gluten-free peanut butter cookie from CIBO and my roomie got a delicious sandwich from Frontera). We eat. We get some caffeine into our system. We buy some Garrett Popcorn. We munch. We wander. We get to our gate. We are moved to another gate. We finally board and we are off to Minneapolis. Arrival time…10:00 p.m. And Jan is there to pick us up.

Friday rolls around and we’re off hanging with Jan and my cousin Natalie. We hit up the Mall of America. It’s a good time. Except Grandpa, my road hero himself, is starting to feel under the weather. So, now we’re doing what we can to ensure that he gets to feeling better.

Saturday rolls in and I head to the race expo that morning to grab my packet and see what all is going on at the expo. This is a very small expo. Tiny. So, it takes a grand total of 15 minutes to do everything, and that included waiting in line at The Depot Hotel in downtown Minneapolis to get the packet. I go through the lines, get my bib, timing chip, t-shirt, and check out the few vendors that are there. And then…we leave to hit up a record store and grab some lunch. That afternoon…the rest of the family arrives (my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and two little nephews). All the cousins come over for dinner and we aim for an early bed time…which doesn’t exactly happen…but we tried.

Now, all afternoon I had been trying to get out of my family who might be coming out for the race. I knew my roommate and my aunt were a lock. But no one else for sure. And I was really bummed out about that. So, when Sunday morning rolled around and I hauled myself off my air mattress to get changed and ready for the race, I was still bummed. I headed upstairs to eat some cereal and get a banana to go. And up the stairs comes…my dad!! I ran over and hugged him. I was so happy to have him coming out to the race. Especially since my reason for running a half marathon in Minneapolis, my grandpa, was sick and couldn’t make it out to the event.

We headed into downtown Minneapolis and attempted to find the lot we had pre-paid for parking at. We managed, but all the gates were still down. Yes…on an event morning. We used the call box to get this information, but some marathon runners (the marathon started an hour before the half marathon) were in a hurry to get to the start and swiped their credit card so we went and parked on their dime. We ambled out of the car and toward the starting point. The are had the pace markers up and we walked by, seeing a lot of marathon runners stretching and getting ready to start. Since we still had a good amount of time…we headed to Caribou Coffee for…coffee and some breakfast. I got a Vanilla Northern Lite Cooler and ate my banana. Then made use of their indoor plumbing by using the bathroom. And while we were taking turns, I answered their chalkboard question…Who Do You Run For? My answer – “My Running Hero – My Grandpa!”

The marathon was getting ready to kick off, so we all headed out to the starting line to cheer them on. The National Anthem was sung and soon, they were off. This was the first time I got to be a spectator at a race. So it was a lot of fun shouting at the runners and getting them off to a good start. Once they passed, we crossed the street and I started to stretch out.

And that is when Heather, my bestie since third grade, showed up. Now, Heather is becoming a pro at being at my important races. She was at my first half marathon in Chicago too…which is where she was living at the time. Now in Minnesota, her arrival at the race really brightened my day. Yeah, I was very bummed about grandpa…but I had other friends and family who were turning up to cheer me on. And that meant the world to me!

I stretched and talked and talked and stretched…and soon I noticed the corals filling up. So, I gave hugs to everyone and they all wished me luck and I headed off alone to choose my pace group. I opted for the 9:00 pace, figuring that was as good a place as any to start. I also happened to be in the first wave they sent off.

I had some fun talking to some of the people I was near. Some were anxiously searching for the pacer, as they wanted to run near them so they knew they were on target. Some were running their first race ever. Some chose this as their first half marathon. Some were pros at this. Some were discussing the hills on the course. And others just plugged into their iPod’s and focused on the run ahead.

The National Anthem was sung once more and then…moments later…we were off.

I could hear my family and friends cheering for me as I crossed the start line. I flashed my signature peace sign and just told myself to pace myself. Why? Because I tend to go out way too fast and then suffer in the end. I knew that this course was going to provide some hills and I wanted my energy for them. So…I did what I could and kept a good pace. In fact, I somehow missed the mile marker for the first mile. Because, before I knew it…I was coming up on Mile 2. It was a great morning to run. A little warmer than I liked…and it was only going to heat up more, but it felt good to be out there. The spirit of the race was fantastic. People were scattered along the course. There were spectators and people cheering and holding signs everywhere along the way. Just after Mile 3, we doubled back and headed back along the river front.

And for the first time ever…I got the thrill of a lifetime at the halfway mark. I spotted my dad and my aunt on the side shouting and cheering as I passed. Yep. They met me halfway. And just a little more up the way…Heather and Cathy were there. And they were screaming for me. They were awesome. All four of them. Best spectator moment ever. Nothing gives you a second wind more than seeing your peeps cheering for you halfway through a 13.1 mile race. It felt great.

And then…the second half of the race kicked in. It was really starting to warm up now, but I was wearing my new race tank, and it was keeping me cool. I was carrying a water bottle with me. Unfortunately, and lesson learned, I had flavored water in it…which wasn’t settling well in my stomach now. But, it was hydration. So I sipped at it as needed. There had been hills here and there…and awesome people on them to tell you that you were almost at the top and to keep pushing. My speed slowed down now. I lost the pacer I had been keeping up with the entire time prior to that. But the heat was getting me…and so was that flavored water. Blech.

Top it off with the hills and I was just fighting for each step I was taking at this point. I felt off. My great pace was lagging. And I was just starting to feel the effects of the stressful week. I was going to push through though. And I did. And that wall was broken through, especially at Mile 9.5, where the turnaround happened again and I was now on the last couple of miles to the finish. When I hit Mile 10…I knew it was only a 5K from there on and I was still making pretty decent time…despite the slow down. I got out my Annie’s Bunny Fruit Snacks (citrus flavored) to put something in my stomach. The citrus, while delicious, wasn’t a good choice on a day when flavored water was churning my stomach. But I needed the energy. From now on…I might go with the Sports Beans. Anyway…I gave the eat and run a go and continued on to Mile 11. Another mile down. Then another. Soon after Mile 12…a hill loomed. I knew it was coming because I had looked at the elevation map. It wasn’t going to be as hard as the one I hit around Mile 7…but my legs had carried me up and down hills all morning. By Mile 12, they’re ready for a rest. But I powered up it as best as my legs would allow. And then…the home stretch.

My iPod was playing Rob Thomas and Santana’s “Smooth.” And if you haven’t seen the video for Marathon Thoughts…you won’t understand why this was appropriate. I could hear the announcer. I knew I was close. Around a corner I came and there it was…the finish. I picked up speed. I even passed some people. I totally chicked a guy who was making his way to the finish by passing him on the double. I saw my dad, Jan, Heather and Cathy. Cathy was screaming at me about a new PR. I could see I was under 2 hours…and I bolted across that finish line.

As I made my way down to the end of the finish area, I was handed my finisher’s medal, a bag of snacks, some water…and I waited until I could spot my cheering section. They found me in no time and I shouted “THANK YOU, ROB THOMAS!” Cathy got it. No one else did. Again…watch Marathon thoughts. You’ll understand. Soon after, I was on my back with my feet up, laughing, talking, and discussing the race. According to my Garmin…I ran 13.2 miles from start to finish. So, let’s hear it for that extra 0.1 mile. WOOT! I was just elated. My first ever sub-2 hour half marathon. I was aiming to do that in Hershey, Pennsylvania in October. But I tore it out in Minneapolis…for Grandpa…who was there in spirit and doing himself some good by staying home and resting.

I ate my Picky Bar (by Lauren Fleshman…good carbs/protein ratio) and downed my protein shake. Water followed…and I downed two bottles on the walk back to the car. We parted ways here. Cathy and I headed off with Heather. We were going by her house. I was going to shower. And then we were heading out to a pub for lunch. My dad and Jan gave me hugs and I promised I would see them when I returned after lunch.

This race, for me, was a mixed bag of emotions. I am still working on getting my pace figured out…and how to properly fuel by body on these long runs. I loved having my dad there. I loved having my aunt, my roommate, and Heather there to cheer me on. I experienced the high of reaching one of my goals, finishing a half marathon in under 2 hours.

But…I was very sad not to have grandpa there to be a part of the experience. But…there will be other races. And, as I said before…he was there in spirit. It was best that he stayed home to rest and get better. I know that. And I’m glad he did just that. With that in mind, I think I was meant to set that PR at this race. For Grandpa. Just like my headband said.

Official results of the Minneapolis Half Marathon are that I finished in 1:58:28. I was 828/2779 finishers overall. WOOHOO! I was 366/1773 women to cross the finish. And I was 79/356 people in my division. I couldn’t be happier with these results.

You know what? Grandpa is pretty damn proud of me too!

Race: Run for the Berries 5K

Place: Starlight, Indiana

Date: May 26, 2012

Time: 24:50

YES!!

I finally managed it.  FINALLY!  And in heat and on massive rolling hills.  My sub-25 minute 5K happened on Saturday.

I actually wasn’t expecting any new records to be set at the Run for the Berries 5K on Saturday.  The weather before the sun even came up was in the low 70s.  In fact, when I was getting dressed, I checked the weather and at 5:30 a.m., it was 73 degrees out.  It was going to be a hot morning which would mean it would be one hot race.

Now, I’ve run in the heat before.  I’ve been making myself do it this year instead of hiding in the gym on a treadmill.  I am just smart and go out early or head out late.  No running in the heat of the day.  But I think making myself do it, despite always wilting in the heat, was a major factor in this finish.  That being said, I decked myself out in shorts and a sports bra.  The less fabric I had on, the cooler I would stay.

I ate a bowl of cereal prior to heading out to the Starlight Strawberry Festival, which this race was kicking off.  I packed a Lärabar for the road to eat about 45 minutes before the race so I wouldn’t get hungry while on the run.  No need to pack a change of clothes as home was a short drive away and I wanted to run, eat strawberries, and then go shower.  That was the plan.  So, into the car I went and headed up through the rolling and winding streets of Floyds Knobs towards Starlight, Indiana.

I actually ran this race last year.  But it was cold last year.  I was decked out in capri pants and a long-sleeve running shirt.  Shivering at the start.  So, this return was going to be quite different than the year before because running in cold is easier than running in heat.  At least when you warm up in the cold, you get warm.  When you warm up in the heat…you get even hotter than you already are.

We arrived at the Starlight Strawberry Festival and were directed to a spot to park.  Then it was off to packet pick-up.  This race always uses left-over race bibs from previous races, so I was decked out in one for The Shamrock 2 Miler.  My roommate helped me get pinned up and out the door we went to give me ample time to stretch.  As I was finishing that up, Judi, my roommate’s aunt, arrived with a newly decked out sign for me, completely adorned with strawberries in honor of the occasion.  Awesome.  Two signs (because the sign my roommate brings to every non-rainy race made the journey too).  I have the best peeps who support me in my running.  Honestly, I do.

Within moments, we were all moving a little ways up the street.  I gave hugs to Cathy and Judi and they wished me luck.  I prepped the iPod Nano as I made my way through the sea of runners and walkers to the little line across the road marking the start of the race.  I was about 3 rows back.  Next to me, I had a woman (who ended up taking 2nd for the women overall) who began bitching about running 5Ks.  She just went on and on about how she hated this distance and would rather run ultra’s any day.  Someone told her to just tack on another 97 miles then.  I was just shaking my head.  If you don’t like 5K races, don’t sign up to run in them.  That easy.

The announcements were made and then…the gun was to send us on our way.  But it didn’t fire.  Naturally.  So, we got a shout of “GO” and off we all went.  I wanted to start off slow as I tend to go out fast and then struggle at the end, but I ended up going out fast anyway.  Figures.  Another reason I wanted to start off at a better pace was the heat.  I was hot within moments of taking off on the race and heading up our first hill.  But, what better way to accustom yourself to running in the heat than to do it.

Mile 1 was rough.  There were quite a few small hills to take on.  I was running near one guy and as someone he knew caught up to him, they began having a conversation.  The guy who came up to him said that if they just run faster, it will be over sooner.  It made me laugh.  And then, before I knew it…Mile 1 was gone.  I remembered very little about this course from the previous year, but I did remember that the second mile was where a lot of runners dropped off last year to catch their breath near the cornfield.  I knew when I saw that cornfield I would be over halfway there.

And so I just kept going.  I just wanted to stay on pace.  No need to push too hard or drain myself in the heat for no reason.  I wanted to be comfortable and not push my body beyond limits it wasn’t ready for…or needed to go.  Mile 2 came around along with the only water stop on the route.  I pushed on and then…it was there…

A steep-ass hill.  No gradual incline here.  It looked like a monster just looming out ahead of me.  I admit…I was already feeling depleted of energy in the heat, that hill was the last thing I wanted to encounter.  But, what can you do?  You just run up it as best you can.  So, that’s what I did.  I won’t like…it totally slowed me down, but I just took it all in stride, pushed through it, and crested the top.  It felt good, but damn, it took a lot out of me.

From there on, it was just a series of small rolling hills.  As I rounded a corner, I could see the finish line.  I picked up the pace a bit.  And as I came in toward the finish line, my roommate was screaming at me.  Just shouting.  I checked the time clock and it was at 24-minutes and some seconds and ticking up.  I found whatever power left in my legs to propel me across that finish line in a very surprising sub-25 minute 5K.  My first.

It felt…amazing.  I couldn’t believe it.  Cathy and Judi came over, handed me water.  I downed it and went to turn in my card with my time, name and age on it.  When I returned, we made our way into the festival area and found a spot to camp out.  When the strawberry shortcake booth finally opened we went and got some strawberries.  As I can’t eat the shortcake, I just filled my bowl up with heaps of strawberries and dug in.

The awards ceremony began soon after and we cheered for the winners.  The overall winners were the team from the University of Cincinnati that always comes down and sweeps this race of the top awards.  It happened last year too.  Then the divisional awards were handed out.  And the craziest thing happened.

I won my division.  I wasn’t expecting that at all.  I was so surprised when they called my name for taking first place in the 30-34 women’s age group.  Cathy and Judi went ballistic and shouted for me as I went up to receive my award from the Strawberry Festival Queen.  I’m still in shock, I believe.

The official results for the Run for the Berries 5K haven’t been posted yet, but my official time is 24:50 (WOOHOO!).  The card I was handed at the finish had a 13 on it, but I’m not sure if that meant I was the 13th finisher of the 13th woman.  And, as I mentioned before, I placed first in my division.  If the results ever get posted, I’ll update this to give official standings.

For now…I sit here just really proud of myself for finally pulling off that sub-24 minute 5K.  I didn’t think I’d see it this year.  And this one…there was no mistaking the time.  The course is the right length.  The time…officially stands.

YES!

Race: Geist 5K

Place: Fishers, Indiana

Date: May 19, 2012

Time: 25:47

Tired doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt leading up to this race.  I was exhausted.  And here’s why…

The night prior I was running in the second race of the Frankfort Trifecta in Frankfort, Kentucky.  While I’ve done back-to-back races before, the second race usually suffers in comparison due to tired legs.  Races on two mornings leave some time for recovery.  A race at night followed by a race in the morning gives me time to sleep.

Usually.

The apartment below mine, however, is the home of a couple of baseball players in college.  And Friday night leading into Saturday morning they decided to be loud, obnoxious, shout, carry on, throw things around, bang around on things, and in general…be a complete nuisance.  Unfortunately, their loud antics meant very little sleep was had.  I finally stopped trying and just got up, got dressed in my race clothes, and came out to the living room to play on my computer until 4:00 a.m. when my roommate had set her alarm to get up.  But soon after I settled in on the couch, her door opened.  Yep…they woke her up too.

It was 3:30 a.m.  I put in a call to the landlord and we both decided we’d just get ready to get out on the road.  I got together some cereal to eat and grabbed a Lärabar for an hour before the actual race.  For my roommate, we’d grab something on the go, but just to get something in her stomach, we have granola bars on hand.  We grabbed the race gear and our stuff we’d need for the day…and headed out for the 2 hour drive from our apartment to Fishers, Indiana.

That, my friends, felt like an eternity.  When you are operating on very little sleep, everything seems to take longer.  But, we stuck some music on the iPod and made the drive to Hamilton Southeastern High School for race day packet pick-up (which thank God they have!).  We made one brief stop to get something for Cathy to eat for breakfast and as we neared the high school, I was tearing into my Lärabar (Peanut Butter Cookie flavor, FYI) so I wouldn’t find myself starving in the middle of the race.

We parked and headed toward the doors we entered through the day before.  However, they were locked with a sign on them that said “Go Around.”  The bad thing was, they didn’t indicate which way we needed to go.  And we chose unwisely.  The packet pickup was being held in the auxiliary gymnasium and we ended up taking the longer path around the school in the end.  But, we got there and I went up to the booth and claimed my packet and my t-shirt.

This was the first year that the Geist 5K was going to start in waves.  So, there was actually a corral system being used for the 5K as well as the half marathon, which was kicking off before the 5K.  I opened up my envelope that held my race bib and timing chip and discovered that I was being corralled in Corral A.  Now, for those of you unfamiliar with the corral system at races, the faster people are usually put in Corrals A-C.  Those at the Geist 5K who were in the first three corrals had a green stripe on their race bibs.  Well…I’m not a fast runner, nor do I claim to be.  Given my level of exhaustion and the fact that I had tired legs, I was also wearing a Bondiband that said: “What I lack in speed I make up for in cute!”  Sort of ironic to be wearing that when you’re being issued one of the more elite spots for the start of the race.

I ducked into the bathroom before I got pinned up and had the timing tag attached to my shoe.  From there, we headed outside to catch one of the shuttles (aka: a school bus) to the start point of the race.  We got on the first one and took our seats.  The drive didn’t even last that long, before we were pulling into a parking lot and being let off.  We had just gotten off the bus when some planes flew overhead.  I think this was marking the start of the half marathon.  As we walked toward the start we could see the last of the bobbing bodies going out of the start gate and up a hill.  The half marathon was off and running and now volunteers were readying the start area for the 5K race.

Cathy and I made our way down toward the start gate.  When we got close to Corral A, I went ahead and started stretching.  Good thing too, because the announcer suddenly said that the corrals were now ready for the 5K racers to begin lining up.  I shucked my hoodie, was wished luck by Cathy, and then…I stepped into Corral A.

Despite the fact that the official race site and rules say that headphones are prohibited, almost every runner had them in.  I left my iPod at home, because when a race says you can’t use headphones, I believe you should not wear headphones.  Rules are rules.

The announcer started calling out all the different teams that were running in the 5K race.  And soon, the corrals were moved forward.  The race would be started in waves.  Corral A would go, then four minutes later, the next wave would be set out.  And so on.  It made sense.  And, in the end, would probably make for a much smoother start to the race.

With all that being said, the announcer prepped us for the start.  And as soon as he said, “GO!” we were off…kind of.  You see, the ladies in front of me decided that they would rather walk through the start than go.  In fact, they might have decided to walk the entire thing.  I don’t know.  But I was already over the start line, my GPS was going, and I wasn’t running.  I literally had to push past them to get out and going, and that’s what I did.  I gave a wave to Cathy as I ran by and started up the initial hill that kicks off the Geist 5K.

You wouldn’t think it…but this area of Indianapolis is rather hilly.  The race is run through the surrounding neighborhoods, and then the last bit of it is spent running across the Geist Reservoir.  It starts and ends in two different spots, which meant Cathy had to dart from the start to a shuttle to get her to the finish line before I made it there.  It’s not as easy as it sounds.  For the second year in a row, she managed to get to where she needed to be moments before I rounded the corner for the sprint to the finish.

The first file ticked off without much fanfare.  As we rounded into the neighborhoods we were being told by a volunteer to watch our step on some pavement.  I thanked them as I ran by and headed into the rather hilly neighborhoods around the Geist Reservoir.  The people who live out there, however, are awesome.  Many of them were out on their driveways and in their yards to cheer on the runners.  It was a great atmosphere.  I was hoping there would be some music being played along the way, but no such luck.  Mile 2 was completed and I was heading into the last one.

I started up a hill and there was a sign indicating that 5K runners should hang left and half marathon runners should go to the right.  We were hitting the part where we run across the reservoir.  As I was coming up to the split, a volunteer was moving the sign and told me to go right.  I shouted, “I’m in the 5K!”  He still said I needed to go that way.  So…I did as I was told.  But I noticed all the other runners were in the other lane, and up ahead was a slow moving bus and some people walking.  So, despite what I was told, I hopped the median to join all the other 5K runners and avoided the slow down.  The last mile was being ticked off and I could see the bend that would carry me toward the finish line.

So, I decided, despite how tired I was, to go for it.  I came around the turn, and Cathy was there just shouting and cheering for me.  It was awesome.  I heard the finish line announcer say, “The donkey is flying!  Go Karen!”  It was awesome and funny and…well…awesome!  I was nearing the finish line and I heard people yelling, “GO GIRL!  RUN!”  And then…some walkers were in my way.  They were crossing about the time I was…but I just went around them.  I bet that makes interesting finish line photos.

Yeah…I was tired.  Yeah…my legs were screaming at me.  But I was handed one of the finisher medals and made my way through runner services, snagging a banana and some snacks along the way.  Then, I got the tag cut off my shoe and waited for a moment before I spotted Cathy heading my way.

We met up and I tucked the snacks away for later, drank down my bottle of water, and went to the results tent to get my official time.  It was printed off for me and I was stunned.  I walked the ticket over to Cathy and showed her that, currently, I was placed first in my division.  I did, however, tell her that was going to change.  So, while we waited in the recovery area, I decided to take advantage of the massage booth and got a nice post-race massage.  Then, I rejoined Cathy to polish off my bottle of water.  I went back over to the results booth, because enough of the 5K runners had come in at this point that the results would be a little more accurate.  I was right…my standing changed.

The official results for the Geist 5K have me finishing in 25:47 (not bad for being tired!).  I was 245/3063 finishers overall.  Sweet!  I was 57/1826 women to cross the finish.  And I was 2/173 people in my division.  Second place for my age division.  That’s amazing!  I was ecstatic.  I was actually quite surprised too.  I was running this race on tired legs and was overall just…tired…due to lack of sleep.  But I pulled off one hell of a finish.  I was very, very pleased with the results.  Quite proud of myself too.

I’m contemplating running the Geist Half Marathon next year as one of my half marathon races.  It would be a good run to do as I’m working toward my first marathon in 2013.  So, we’ll see what happens in the end.  But this was yet another race I returned to and bettered myself in.  Last year I finished in 28:10.  It was nice to see an improvement.

Race: Throo The Zoo 5K

Place: Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Kentucky

Date: May 12, 2012

Time: 25:10

And so, my friends…I finally managed a new PR for a 5K race.  I have yet to achieve my goal of a (real) sub-25 minute 5K…but I’m getting closer.  Second-by-second.  And, really, it should be taken one second at a time, right?

Apparently, the Throo The Zoo 5K is one of the more popular races in the Louisville area.  I was actually surprised by the number of bibs stacked up on the table when I went to Fleet Feet in Louisville on Friday morning to pick up my race packet.  For one thing, there was a long line and I was there right when they opened.  The volume of t-shirts and bibs was crazy.  I’m used to Louisville’s little 5Ks that run through one of the local parks. But Throo The Zoo is a big deal it seems.

With race packet in hand, I returned to work on Friday.  But something was different.  You see, my office had a nice handful of people who were not only coming out for the race, but some were going to walk it as well.  For the first time in…well…ever…I was going to know someone at a local 5K race I was in.  This, for some reason, made me incredibly happy.  And, my roommate and her aunt, Judi, were coming out to watch, wave signs, scream, shout, and be an awesome cheering section.

Saturday morning came way too soon.  I was up at 5:00 a.m. to get ready for the race.  This meant packing up my race bag with a change of clothes and everything I might need post-race.  Eating some cereal.  Meeting up with Judi.  Getting us all in the car and over to the Louisville Zoo by 7:00 a.m.  They recommended on the Web site that we arrive early because roads coming into the zoo were going to be closed at 7:30 a.m. in preparation for the race.  That being said, we barely made it there due to the massive amount of traffic heading into the zoo.  Seriously.  Then the hunt for a parking spot (that we would remember) was on.  My roommate was determined to park near a landmark so she chose one of many similar looking trees in a lot and parked.  I was eating a Lärabar in the backseat because I hate at 5:45 a.m. and knew I would be starving by the time the race started at 8:00 a.m. if I didn’t eat something I could easily digest in between.  So when 7:00 hit…I was making sure I’d have some energy for the race itself.

We grabbed the race stuff from the trunk (bag and signs) and made our way toward where the starting gate was staked.  It wasn’t in place yet as traffic was still pouring into the zoo.  Too early to stretch, we sort of just hung around and chatted, taking in the sheer volume of people that were arriving for this 5K race.  And that’s when my teammate from the office, Kayla, found us.  She and her husband, Will, were both participating in the walk.  Amazing they even spotted us.  So, we conversed and chatted and goofed around.  Will inquired as to when I would normally finish one of these races.  I said I tend to come in between 25-27 minutes in 5Ks these days, but didn’t know what to expect with it being this big.  Oh…and that I always finish fourth in my age division.  We all laughed about that…because…I’m usually right on that cusp when it comes to the smaller races.  The clock was ticking down toward race time so it was time to do my stretches to get my muscles loose and warm before shucking my hoodie.  We took a couple of pictures before we saw a flood of runners and walkers making their way toward the starting gate, which had been moved now across the road.  It was 10 minutes before race time.  Hugs.  Luck.  And all that good karma stuff was thrown out among all of us and we took our respective spots.

The wait for the start wasn’t too bad.  There was an electricity with this race.  No one was being negative at all about anything.  People of all ages were around me, from kids to older adults.  I love glancing around me at my starting position just to see what kind of people turned out for the race.  And it was a mixed bag of everyone for this one.

No sooner had I turned on my iPod, we started moving.  I guess the race started and somehow I missed the whistle.  Not that it matters.  I usually position myself toward the front of the middle of the pack, so I move when everyone else does.  I go where everyone else goes.  I’m never the fastest at a race, so I don’t ever concern myself with learning the route pre-race.  I just go where everyone else does.

That being said, this race being so big and running on tight neighborhood streets, were cars were parked on the side, made this a new kind of a challenge.  I had been warned that there were too many people at this race, and it was too big, to attempt any personal goal or record.  So, I went into it just planning to run a good race and to keep a good pace.  My GPS watch was my guide for that.  And as we headed through the neighborhoods, I also discovered how hilly this area was.

Initially, the hills were little mounds that were just a little hindrance to the pace.  I powered through them as best as I could, not wanting to expend too much energy too soon because I wanted that strong finish.  I didn’t want another Frankfort, KY moment where someone outruns me at the very…last…second.  That being said, as we crested another rolling hill, one of the runners in a Fleet Feet shirt stood at the top, high-fiving people as they came up and said, “It’s all downhill from here!”  We all pretty much knew better and I laughed at that when I heard it.  However, I did find myself passing people though as we moved, and being passed in return.  We wound our way past the zoo and down through another neighborhood before turning, heading back toward the zoo for the final portion, which actually took us through the Louisville Zoo (hence the name of the race).

This was actually the part I was looking forward to the most.  We entered the zoo and were directed down a hill (FINALLY!).  The path we were taking was the one that wound through the outer parameter of the zoo itself.  And it also brought about our water stop.  I found out from one of the walkers later that when they hit that spot, all the water was gone.  You’d think a race that is this big of a deal in this area would come better stocked with water.

That being said, I was winding my way through the different areas of the zoo.  There wasn’t too much out to be seen at this point.  I did see a polar bear as I ran under one of the walkways in a concession area.  The polar bear was up in the pass, sort of watching all of us.  Probably thinking breakfast was served.  But, that was basically it for me as far as the animals went.  The path took another twist and at the 2.5 mile mark…Gorilla Hill.  Welcome to the cruelest thing to throw at a runner when they are making their way toward the finish line.  A massive, massive hill.  Gorilla Hill (near the gorilla exhibit) was a climb.  And my legs felt every bit as I pushed my way up it.  It slowed me down, for sure, but I’ve been making a point to get out and run on hills, so my legs are starting to get used to that kind of a push.  Normally I take hills leisurely, but during races I tend to push a bit more.  And I was pushing as much as my body would allow.

As it leveled out, I was down to the final portion of the race.  We finished up inside the zoo and were brought out.  We turned a corner and the finish line was now in sight.  I picked it up as much as I could, really working on that strong finish.  That is such a vital part of road racing.  With me passing people, people passing me, and the usual runners dance toward the finish, I crossed, stopped my GPS watch and was immediately greeted by Cathy and Judi.  And for the first time, I checked my GPS watch.  If it was correct, then I had a new PR.  Only time would tell.

I meandered over to the recovery area where runners could pick up some post-race goodies.  Clif Bars, bananas, barbeque sandwiches, donuts, etc.  I grabbed a banana and thanked the people at the booth for having something gluten-free.  I walked around the area to see what all there was, then rejoined Cathy and Judi near the finish line.

We had a lot going on that day…plans to hit up a local farmer’s market (opening weekend!), see The Avengers at the theater, do lunch, and grab some ice cream…so as much as we wanted to stay to cheer on the people from our office, we had to depart.  We gave a parting glance to the finish line and made our way through the parking lot, searching for the elusive tree we parked near.  With the car found, we piled in and headed out to enjoy our day.

It was while the credits were rolling during the film that I pulled up the race results on my iPhone.

And the results were that I finished the Throo The Zoo 5K in 25:10.  A new PR!  It beat out my time in the Westerville Bunny Hop 5K (my fastest 5K at the time, not counting the Durbin Classic 5K where they said the course might have been shorter than 3.1 miles) by 14 seconds.  I was the 210/2153 finishers overall.  And yes…I finished 4/169 in my age division.  See…always 4th.  It made me laugh when I saw that.

This was a great, packed race that had a great atmosphere to it.  I would totally run this one again in a heartbeat.  So…if I’m here next year…it’s going on the list.

Race: Step 4 Life 5K/10K Race

Place: Brighton, CO

Date: April 21, 2012

Time: 27:16

To quote U2: “EL-E-VATION!”

So…here it is.  I live in a river valley.  The Ohio River Valley here in Southern Indiana.  I’m so close to Louisville, Kentucky, I can see it from my apartment.  Yeah.  New Albany, Indiana sits at an elevation of 449 feet.

Now picture for a moment doing your first run ever in Colorado at 5,063 feet.  Yeah.  Elevation indeed!

Every April, I fly out to Denver, Colorado for a science fiction convention.  No, really…I do.  I love visiting Colorado.  It’s such a beautiful state and every time I go out there, I hate leaving.  I long for the next time I’ll be back.  That’s how much I love it.  This year, since I have taken up running and am pursuing a goal of running a race in all 50 states at some point, I thought why not run a race and cross Colorado off the list.  My roommate found one…the Step 4 Life 5K/10K race that benefited lung cancer research.  Awesome.

I really, really wanted to do the 10K, but after much thought and evaluation, decided it would probably be best when going from river valley to mountains to do a test run on the 5K.  So, that’s what I signed up for.  And, believe me, I had a lot of people concerned about how I would do at it.  For me…I was just going to take it easy and do what I felt my body could do.

So, race morning came around.  A beautiful 52 degree, sunny morning.  I got up, ate a light breakfast of some gluten-free cereal and got dressed for the race.  The drive from Denver to Brighton took about 25 minutes overall, and we got there right about the time we hoped to.  I went to pick up my packet…and unfortunately…they couldn’t find my name on the list.  YIKES!

But, they were very professional about it and simply handed me a number, had me write down my information, and let me enter.  I had the receipt showing I paid for it, but they didn’t even ask to see it.  Awesome.  So, now that I was officially part of the race with my t-shirt and all, I went to pick up my timing chip.

This was apparently the first year that they used chip timing.  So, this was going to be a new experience for anyone who had run this before.  As I am getting pinned up and put, what I like to call the “house arrest timing chip” around my ankle, I’m noticing the other runners in the race.  They are all super fit.  No surprise.  Colorado is the home of the two healthiest cities in the entire United States (Boulder and Fort Collins).  So, there were people who had run the Boston Marathon that year, and people who were just all muscle.  Lean, mean running machines.  I consider myself to be in decent shape (although I admit that I do love my ice cream and chocolate too much for my own running good, but it never stops me!), but I was really intimidated by these other runners.

I guess that’s just natural.  I usually try not to compare myself to others that are running with me, because no matter how fit someone is (or not fit) you don’t know how well they perform when running.  I have been bested by people I thought I would leave behind in the dust, and likewise I have blasted past people I thought I’d never even have a chance of passing.  It’s just one of those weird running quirks.

Well, race time was upon us and I was stretched out and as prepared as I was going to be.  I booted up my iPod Nano and went to line up.  In my head I was just reminding myself to breathe (which is what my headband for this race said, btw!).  The announcer said that the 10K people were to line up first as they would kick off the race.  Then the 5K people.  Most of us didn’t hear him say they would have a separate start, but thankfully he said this before too many of the 5K people set out with the 10K people.  After a two minute gap, they turned us loose on the course.

I did start off slower than I usually do.  I really just wanted to see how I would do with the change in elevation and the thinner air.  But, I felt good as I headed out and found myself running at a decent, though not normal, pace.  That was a good thing.  If I felt good, that meant I could push it a little more.  After my first mile, I decided to do just that.  And here is where we hit some minor inclines.  No big deal now.  I run on hills in my practice runs, easy and hard, so I pushed past them without any problem.  And hey…I was passing people.  Me!  The lowlander from Indiana.  The one not used to running at this sort of elevation.  Yeah…I was passing and pressing onward.

The race course had a turn around point and as I passed a water station, the first of the 10K racers were heading back in our direction.  Except they missed the turn, and when someone shouted after them, the guy in the lead just darted across my path, almost knocking right into me and pushing me over.  I don’t think he would have stopped if that had actually occurred.  But thankfully I was paying attention, pulled up to a quick stop and then continued onward.  The turn-around point was a bit of a choke point.  I was catching up to people as we were reaching the cone to run around and there was no room to maneuver past them, so I had to simply run their pace for a moment until the breakaway.

And breakaway I did.  Down the hill I had run up, and then toward the water stop.  Carefully I crossed against the people still coming the other way and made my way into the final leg of the race.  One mile to go.  The course was a mix of gravel, concrete, and then…grass.  Yes…grass.  I love running on grass, but I wasn’t expecting it.  By now, I could see the finish line.  It still felt miles away and I was starting to feel the effects of the elevation.  I was more tired than usual, but I wasn’t about to stop.  This race was so much fun and I was having a great time and not really worrying about what time I came in.  Just finishing it would be amazing and awesome.  And that was my goal.

Over a wooden footbridge and down the straightaway to the finish  line.  I was heading into the last stretch.  Here is where I normally put on the speed and dash all out for the finish, but I didn’t hear.  I couldn’t.  Not this time.  But I did put a little more speed into it…but only a little.  I was tired.  I admit that I was tired.

And I finished.  My GPS watch stated at 27:10, but the official race results says 27:16.  So, either way…a respectable time.

Here is where the Step 4 Life 5K stands.  I finished, as I said, in 27:16.  I was the I was 24/87 5K finishers overall and 6/41 women.  And, of course, I finished 3/19 in my division.  Being that this was my first race ever at altitude, I think that’s pretty rockstar.  Yeah…I’m proud of that.  And in the end, I felt great.  I had an amazing race.  And if it runs again next year, you better believe I’ll be a part of it.

Maybe I’ll even attempt the 10K.  Maybe.

(On a side note, the second song to come up on my shuffled running mix on my iPod that day was U2’s “Elevation.”  Perfection!)

Race: Tomorrow’s Children 5K Fun Run/Walk

Place: Frankfort, KY

Date: April 14, 2012

Time: 25:32

Races are supposed to be fun.  No pressure.  No expectations.  Just get out there and run.

That being said…this was the first race I ever revisited to date…although it won’t be the last.  Of course, this was also a race that I showed really well at the first time I ran it, so expectations were actually there.  In my head.  No one was putting them on me.  But, I wanted to prove that I rightfully placed last year and the bad weather wasn’t the reason I won first in my division (30-39).

No pressure.  That’s a joke.

I woke up that morning and got dressed for the race.  It was going to be a perfect 54 degrees out at race time, so I was in my shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt…and opted for fun rainbow socks.  I don’t know why.  I was just feeling all Skittle-ish that morning, I suppose.

The drive to Frankfort always seems longer than it is.  It’s not really all that far, but I didn’t eat breakfast at home.  I saved my cereal for the ride and broke into it around 7:30 a.m. as we were heading into the Frankfort area.  I didn’t want to eat too soon and risk being hungry during the race, but I didn’t want to eat too late either.  As it was, I think I got the timing down perfectly.

The drive in got a bit stressful as my roommate never can quite remember where to go.  I race in Frankfort often enough, but it seems she always turns too soon and we end up getting lost.  This did happen.  And then once we got turned around, the bridge we were supposed to take was closed.  So we followed some detour signs, spotted some runners, parked the car on the street and found our way to packet pickup via “Eye of the Tiger” blaring up the streets of Frankfort via a stereo system.

I got my packet.  Then got my number pinned on me…and went to use the bathroom once more before the race.  As there was a pancake breakfast (not gluten-free…so sad!) afterwards, we had access to the church’s bathrooms (huzzah for plumbing).  Then, it was time to stretch it out.  And I really wanted to stretch well as my Achilles tendon on my left foot has been giving me troubles since my roommate accidentally stepped on it and did some minor damage.  So stretching was very, very important that morning.  My tendon was a little tender as it was so I wanted to warm it up without putting any strain on it.  I’d be doing enough of that with the run.

And before I knew it, the runners were getting into the road to line up for the start.  There was nothing really to indicate the start line, so one of the organizers got out there and waved her arms to indicate where we should line up.  And so…we moved forward and took our spots.  And somehow…I ended up where I never do…the front.

I went ahead and started my iPod because it would be one less thing to worry about as the race started.  It was down low so I could talk to people if I wanted and could clearly hear the announcements.  They had a prayer just before the race and then once the Frankfort police that were assisting gave the thumbs up…they got us on our marks, getting set…and we were off.

To say that I was up front for the entire thing is a stretch of the truth.  Considering the winner finished 9 minutes before I did means that while I was up at the front, I was nowhere near the lead pack.  Between the start of the race and mile one, which included a steep little hill, I was the second female within range.  The only other one was just ahead of me and just after mile 1, I passed her…only to be passed by two other women running together.  One I recognized as the overall winner of this exact race last year.  As I came up toward the capital, the other woman I passed went by me on the uphill part as well as two other females, who I ended up passing and never saw again as soon as it leveled out.  Damn, time to work on hill repeats.  I have got to get stronger on those hills.

I passed up the other woman again on the downhill and managed to stay ahead of her heading into mile 2.  At mile 2 I was even closing the gap on the two other women who were just ahead of me.  I was struggling a little because I knew that I went out really fast on this race.  I always tell myself not to, and to save it for the end, but I really got caught up in this one.  Probably because I felt like I really had something to prove.  Not to anyone else…but to myself.  I felt good as I ran down the hill and headed back through the city toward the finish line.  As I turned a corner, I could see the finish line clock and I did my best to pick up the speed…but I really just couldn’t.

My roommate was standing at the front of the finish, I could see her screaming, then hear her screaming, telling me to push, to dig, to go faster.  The two women ahead of me crossed together.  My roommate was pointing, flailing her hands, screaming at me to run faster.  And I found out why a second before I crossed the finish line.  That other woman, the one I battled back and forth with throughout the course, blew right past me and beat me to the finish line.

By one second.

I slowed and went through the finish gate, feeling…a mix of emotions really.  The tag of my bib was torn off and I saw my roommate moving toward me.  “Shit!” I said, despite being at a church.  I wasn’t happy.  Not at all.  I had nothing left at the end and that was my undoing.  The other woman, Heather Drake (a name I will never forget!), proceeded to move to the side and throw up.  Well, at least I made her push hard enough to puke up her breakfast, right?

Shit.

Racing has never been about winning medals and placing for me.  I do it because I love it.  It means getting out to run with other people who love to run.  The vibe, the atmosphere…it’s all just amazing.  And it keeps me going back to races, no matter how short or how long.  And it challenges me…pushes me to do better.  But for some reason, being beat out at the last second by someone I passed and didn’t see again…stung.  It really, really bothered me.

I languished for a moment on the sidewalk as I drank down a bottle of water.  Then I remembered I never stopped my GPS watch, so now my time was all off.  So I cussed again, threw a little fit, and then took a few deep breaths and reminded myself that this was supposed to be fun.  My roommate helped with this too, telling me that I had a good race, that I ran well, and that while I still haven’t reached that elusive sub-25 minute goal, I ran well and finished.  And she was right.  Why was I being so petty?  Was it because I had placed first in my division last year and just felt I needed to do it again for this race to mean something to me?  Probably.  But it was the wrong attitude to have.

After taking a moment to reflect on this, I stood up and went into the church bathroom to get changed out of my running clothes.  I put one of my Icy-Hot patches on my tendon and headed up to the pancake breakfast, despite not being able to eat anything there.  That was okay though, I had brunch plans back in Louisville, so I just sort of took a seat, put my foot up and waited for the awards ceremony to start.

Once people were given time to eat, the awards were handed out.  For overall women, there was a tie for first (so it went first and second) and then Heather Drake (dammit!) took third overall.

One second.

But I knew that this also meant that I had, in fact, defended my title, which was the original goal in the first place.  My name was announced…first in my division, and I went to get my medal.  I was happy.  I really was.  I would have been even if I had taken second or third.  It was a good race for a good cause, and that was the important thing.  Defending my title just put a little extra pressure on me that I probably didn’t need to carry with me…and in the future, I’ll remember that.

I was quite proud of myself for accomplishing my original goal.  So, I was one second away from being one of the top female finishers overall.  ONE SECOND!  *cough*  So, I didn’t set a new PR.  What I did do, however, was run strong, run fast, and run well.  In the future, I’ll pace myself better.  I will save some push for the end.  And one day…I’ll see the results of this.  For now, I will call this a job well done and a race well run.

And I’m okay with that.  Even that one second.  Okay…maybe I’m not over that yet…but I will get there.

With all that being said, my official results of the Tomorrow’s Children 5K Fun Run/Walk are that I finished the race in 25:32.  I was the I was 17/108 finishers overall and 4/42 women.  And, of course, I finished 1/22 in my division.  All that being said, it was a damn good race with damn good results.

I can’t wait to run it again next year.

Race: Bunny Hop 5K

Place: Hoff Woods Park, Westerville, OH

Date: April 7, 2012

Time: 25:24

Cheer up sleepy Jean…Oh what can it mean?

Welcome to my tribute race to the late, great Davy Jones from The Monkees.  I know what you’re thinking…you’re probably wondering why I dedicated an Easter race to a member of the band The Monkees.  Well, there is no method to my madness this time.  The answer is simple…I wanted to.

Nothing bummed me out more than coming out of my lunch meeting at my office on February 29 and finding out about the passing of Davy Jones.  You see, I was one of those people who never stopped listening to The Monkees.  I owned the entire series on VHS…later DVD.  I have all the CDs.  I’ve seen The Monkees in concert twice.  I earned the nickname “Monkeegirl” in high school.  So, yeah, I was in a deep funk when I heard about Davy Jones.  I wasn’t prepared.  And it still saddens me.

So…an idea came to mind to dedicate a race to him.  My next race where this was a viable option (aka: not part of a racing series), was the Bunny Hop 5K in Westerville, OH.  Why was this a good choice?  Well, for one thing I’d be with two friends (my roommate and my awesome friend Jenn) who were also fans of The Monkees.  And…because it was a good, little race so nothing would really detract from the meaning of the tribute (despite the presence of the Easter Bunny).

With the idea now in my head, I signed up for the race and got my accessories ready.  What accessories, you might ask.  Well, my Bondi Band read “Daydream Believer” across it and I (and my cheering section) wore sashes that said “Homecoming Queen” on them.  And if you have never heard the lyrics for The Monkees song Daydream Believer, you have either been hiding under a rock or need to get more cultured in music.  The chorus is:

“Cheer up sleepy Jean…oh, what can it mean…to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen…”

Get it?  Daydream Believer.  Homecoming Queen.  Brilliant.

So, after work on Friday, my roommate and I hopped into the car and drove from Indiana to Columbus, Ohio, to hang out for the weekend with the amazing Jenn.  It was a long drive and we got there in enough time to eat Pink Salad (it’s delicious!), make signs for the following morning, talk, and hit the sack.

Morning came way, way, way too soon.  I was still a zombie when the alarm went off.  But, I got out of bed, and started to get dressed for the race.  Thankfully before leaving Indiana the day before I went back to my apartment on my lunch break to grab warmer clothes to run in.  It was freezing that morning and I had originally packed my running skirt and a short sleeve tech shirt.  No good on a morning in the very low 30s when frost is on the ground.  My pants and running jacket made the journey with me.  It had been awhile since I had to break out the jacket.  Then again, Columbus seems to know when I’m coming to visit and gets very cold just to tick me off (true facts!).

So, dressed and with a Blueberry Muffin LäraBar in hand, my friends and I headed out to scrape some frost off the car windows and head to the park for packet pickup.

It was an easy drive in, despite the need to turn around and grab a forgotten cup for the coffee that would follow the race.  Once at the park, we found a good place to park and I went and grabbed my packet.  Inside was a gourmet cookie (I gave it to Jenn as I can’t eat it with my gluten intolerance), a water bottle, bunny ears, my shirt, and my race bib (no chip timing!).  I got my sash pinned on and my number too.  And then I got a sign pinned to me that indicated who I was dedicating the race to.  Then the three of us retreated to the car for a little while to warm up.  I hate the cold.  With about 20 minutes to go before the race, we finally crawled out of the warm sanctuary and I set to stretching a bit before we were directed toward the starting line.

The starting line was over in another parking lot.  It was just a short little walk across a path.  There was a chalk line drawn across the pavement and a yellow flag was set up to mark the start.  Awesome.  I stretched a little more, spotted the cameo appearance by the Easter Bunny (it was, after all, the Bunny Hop 5K the day before Easter Sunday), and listened to the announcements.  Our lead vehicle was a guy on a “pink Easter bike.”  I don’t know what it is about me and park runs and guys on bikes.  This is the second one.  He was going to guide us on the path.  So, after the announcements and a warm up of bunny hopping (for real), I readied my iPod, my GPS watch, and soon, we were off.

Apparently the head of the pack was taking the Bunny Hop 5K pretty seriously because my roommate later told me that the announcer said, “Guys!  It’s only a fundraiser!”  But some runner types are so serious about every race.  And that’s okay.

So, the run was a good one.  We wound our way out of the park and down through some residential neighborhoods.  It was a relatively flat terrain, with only small inclines.  I was really doing my best to keep my usual 5K pace, but I was having some trouble with my Achilles tendon.  It was pulled earlier in the week and I’d been doing my best to baby it in preparation for this race, and the upcoming half marathon in a month.  So, I started off a bit slower and worked my way up to pace.

The run was fun.  At the point where we turned around, the guys directing us saw me coming and said, “Daydream believer and a homecoming queen.  AWESOME!”  I pumped my fist in the air and smiled.  YES!!  They got it without seeing the tribute sign attached to my back.

I knew I was making pretty decent time, mostly in part to my GPS watch.  LOVE that thing.  It really does help me keep on pace and push when I need to.  I didn’t push too hard though, not with the Achilles tendon screaming at me.  So, I just sort of stayed at my pace, and wound my way back through the neighborhood to the park.  We were directed into the last turn and there was the finish line.  The big inflatable arch was really hard to  miss.

As there was no chip timing for this race, when runners crossed the finish line, we were handed a card.  All we needed to do was put our name on it, and they would fill out the rest with our time.  Oh, and for the first 50 men and the first 50 females to cross the finish…we also got medals.  Awesome.

It was a fun race.  But I was cold, in need of my Caribou Coffee, and ready to get some actual food in my belly.  As Caribou Coffee has nothing for food that is gluten-free, I brought some gluten-free bread and peanut butter with me, and built a sandwich using pieces of overly-ripe banana on one slice and slices of apple on the other.  YUM!

So, the official results are that I finished in 25:24 (that sub-25 minute 5K still eludes me!).  On the official results page, my entry is out of order, so I’m adjusting the results to show my proper placement (for the record, they have me higher than I really am).  So, with that being said, overall I finished 24/154 finishers and was 9/83 female runners.  Not too bad.  Not bad at all.

This race was special.  I didn’t set a new record.  I didn’t run to my full potential.  But I had a good time.  And I found it to be a fitting and perfect tribute to a musical icon who I admired throughout my life.  And that’s what mattered to me that day.  Having friends at the finish line is awesome.  Having friends at the finish line holding signs with lyrics to Daydream Believer on them…is priceless.  My friends rule.

Davy Jones…I hope you appreciated the tribute.  Rest in peace.  You’re free.